FEDERAL ARREST
SCHROON — A man with a Long Island address is facing a federal felony charge after being found Monday sitting in an illegally parked car on Interstate 87 with no identification.
A High Peaks-based State Police patrol noticed a 1997 Accura Integra parked illegally Monday night in one of the southbound lanes of the Northway in the vicinity of mile marker 83, just south of the Schroon Lake rest area.
When a trooper approached the vehicle and requested identification and vehicle registration, the occupant, Pedro Pelaez Dubon, 21, allegedly provided neither, according to Lewis-based State Police.
Dubon, who State Police said does not speak English, was taken into custody at 9:35 p.m. Monday on a single federal felony charge and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, which is a misdemeanor.
The federal charge was brought because Dubon allegedly could not provide any documentation to prove he is an American citizen.
He was charged with criminal possession of stolen property because he allegedly could not provide documentation or any other proof that the Accura belongs to him, State Police said.
According to police records, Dubon hails from Far Rockaway.
Dubon also was ticketed for multiple traffic infractions, including operating a vehicle without insurance, registration, proper license plates or a driver's license.
He was turned over Monday night to the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol.
FELONY ARREST
LAKE PLACID — A Gabriels man is facing a charge of driving while intoxicated after being stopped for speeding.
Lawrence P. Maxwell, 48, was pulled over at about 5:24 p.m. Monday after Lake Placid Police Department officers observed him speeding in the village, according to a news release.
Police said he was found to be intoxicated and taken into custody on a felony charge of driving while intoxicated.
Maxwell was charged with a felony because officers discovered he had been convicted of driving while intoxicated in the past 10 years.
He was also ticketed for speeding.
Maxwell was released after being issued an appearance ticket. He is scheduled to face the charges in Lake Placid Village Court at a later date.
MALONE — A Malone woman is accused of forging a medical prescription for a controlled substance.
Malone Village Police received a report at about 2 p.m. Tuesday from Walgreens pharmacy that a woman had allegedly tried to fill a prescription believed to be forged.
After an investigation, Village Police later arrested Katie L. Bohn, 29, and charged her with second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument.
Bohn was arraigned in Malone Village Court and released to the custody of the Franklin County Probation Department.
She is scheduled to return to court at a later date.
MISDEMEANOR ARREST
CHESTERFIELD — A Keeseville married couple is accused of providing alcohol to minors last summer at a graduation party for one of their own children.
Michael J. and Debra A. Moran, 37 and 39, respectively, were both taken into custody just after 9 p.m. Sunday and each charged with a single count of first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child, according to Plattsburgh-based investigators with the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The charge alleges that the couple provided alcohol to between 10 and 20 people under the age of 21 who were at their Keeseville residence for the party, according to investigators.
The parents allegedly threw the graduation party for their daughter, investigators said. The Morans are also the parents of another underage person who was at the party.
The alleged crimes were initially reported to State Police at 2:06 a.m. June 28, 2009, by a minor who investigators said had attended the party.
Investigators said the party likely began June 27.
Investigators said the length of the investigation was due to a great amount of paperwork and questioning of the minors allegedly at the gathering.
The Morans were issued appearance tickets. They are scheduled to face the charges in Town of Chesterfield Court at 10 a.m. Feb. 15.
STRUCTURE FIRE
ST. REGIS FALLS — Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish a blaze that started Tuesday afternoon in the floor of a residence.
Raymond Austin notified Franklin County Fire Control at about 1:42 p.m. of a possible fire in his one-story home at 155 Spring St.
"When we got there, nothing was showing on the outside," said St. Regis Fire Chief Brent Poquette. "There were no flames at all. But there was smoke in the basement."
Poquette said part of the flooring on the first level and part of a wall were torn up, exposing a charred beam, which was quickly doused.
Poquette said firefighters learned that Austin, a middle-aged man who lives alone at the home, was using a torch to thaw a pipe in the basement about two hours before the call came in.
The cost of the damage was not yet determined, but Poquette estimated it to be about $2,000.
He said the damage was to the floor and wall on the first level.
Poquette said it was believed the home was livable, and Raymond was staying there Tuesday night.
About 24 firefighters responded from the St. Regis and Dickinson volunteer fire departments, and firefighters were standing by at the Moira station, Poquette said.
"It was a great turnout for the middle of the afternoon and during the week," Poquette said.
The responding fire departments were back in service at 4 p.m.
COURT APPEARANCE
PERU — Timothy Booth, the Town of AuSable highway superintendent accused of driving a town vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, appeared in court Tuesday.
Booth, 52, stood before Peru Town Justice James Kirby at the side of his attorney.
Booth's attorney requested that the case be adjourned for 45 days to allow him to make motions.
Booth was arrested Jan. 7 on a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated.
At the time of his arrest, Booth was allegedly driving a blue Town of AuSable truck in the center of the roadway on Cold Springs Road, which is where his residence is.
Booth has been the AuSable Highway superintendent for at least 17 years, according to AuSable Town Supervisor Sandra Senecal.
Kirby adjourned the case for 43 days, until March 23.
— By Contributing Writer Casey Ryan Vock
